Italy Lady Gladiators drop a heartbreaker to Santo at Area, Lady Cats win 57-52

Image: Italy junior Cory Chance(33) drives to the basket early against a Santo Lady Cat defender as both team’s tangled for the 2A Region 2 Area Championship. The game was hosted at Chisholm Trail High School in Ft. Worth.

Italy junior Cory Chance(33) drives to the basket early against a Santo Lady Cat defender as both team’s tangled for the 2A Region 2 Area Championship. The game was hosted at Chisholm Trail High School in Ft. Worth. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator freshman Emmy Cunningham(2) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo.

Lady Gladiator freshman Emmy Cunningham(2) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator senior Kortnei Johnson(3) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo.

Lady Gladiator senior Kortnei Johnson(3) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator senior K’Breona Davis(10) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo.

Lady Gladiator senior K’Breona Davis(10) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator junior Taleyia Wilson(22) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo.

Lady Gladiator junior Taleyia Wilson(22) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator junior Cory Chance(33) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo.

Lady Gladiator junior Cory Chance(33) is introduced before Italy’s area playoff battle against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Lady Gladiators were definitely not Santo fan favorites.

The Lady Gladiators were definitely not Santo fan favorites. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy picked up an extra fan Friday night with Jamie Duke excited to see her former team in town. A Lady Gladiator herself, Duke is currently a basketball/volleyball coach for Chisholm Trail High School in Ft. Worth where the playoff game was hosted.

Italy picked up an extra fan Friday night with Jamie Duke excited to see her former team in town. A Lady Gladiator herself, Duke is currently a basketball/volleyball coach for Chisholm Trail High School in Ft. Worth where the playoff game was hosted. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kortnei Johnson(3) controls the opening tip for the Lady Gladiators.

Kortnei Johnson(3) controls the opening tip for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) rebounds the ball and then passes to an open teammate downcourt.

Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) rebounds the ball and then passes to an open teammate downcourt. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s K’Breona Davis(10) is fouled after attempting a layup against Santo.

Italy’s K’Breona Davis(10) is fouled after attempting a layup against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Cory Chance(33) gives Italy an early lead against Santo.

Italy’s Cory Chance(33) gives Italy an early lead against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Taleyia Wilson(22) intercepts a crosscourt pass attempted by Santo.

Italy’s Taleyia Wilson(22) intercepts a crosscourt pass attempted by Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kortnei Johnson(3) spins and scores for the Lady Gladiators.

Kortnei Johnson(3) spins and scores for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(3) is fouled by Santo while driving to the basket.

Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(3) is fouled by Santo while driving to the basket. (Barry Byers)

Image: Taleyia Wilson(22) rebounds a missed free throw for the Lady Gladiators.

Taleyia Wilson(22) rebounds a missed free throw for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Janae Robertson(5) and teammate Taleyia Wilson(22) extend for an offensive rebound with Wilson making the snag and putting up a shot.

Janae Robertson(5) and teammate Taleyia Wilson(22) extend for an offensive rebound with Wilson making the snag and putting up a shot. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiators Lillie Perry(24) and Taleyia Wilson(14) scratch and claw with two Santo Lady Cats for a loose ball.

Lady Gladiators Lillie Perry(24) and Taleyia Wilson(14) scratch and claw with two Santo Lady Cats for a loose ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Brycelen Richards(13) receives the inbound pass from teammate K’Breona Davis(10) and then dribbles out of the corner.

Lady Gladiator Brycelen Richards(13) receives the inbound pass from teammate K’Breona Davis(10) and then dribbles out of the corner. (Barry Byers)

Image: With teammates Cory Chance(33) and Lillie Perry(24) jockeying for position beneath the basket, Lady Gladiator K’Breona Davis(10) shoots a three-ball from the corner.

With teammates Cory Chance(33) and Lillie Perry(24) jockeying for position beneath the basket, Lady Gladiator K’Breona Davis(10) shoots a three-ball from the corner. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) rises over three Santo Lady Cats to get a jumper up and away.

Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) rises over three Santo Lady Cats to get a jumper up and away. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(33) scores from the low block with little resistance from Santo.

Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(33) scores from the low block with little resistance from Santo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) Charges to the hoop against Santo with teammate Lillie Perry(24) in good rebounding position.

Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) Charges to the hoop against Santo with teammate Lillie Perry(24) in good rebounding position. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator senior guard Tara Wallis(4) dribbles past a Santo defender with Italy in a half court set.

Lady Gladiator senior guard Tara Wallis(4) dribbles past a Santo defender with Italy in a half court set. (Barry Byers)

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